EU Committee to Discuss GE-Honeywell Merger

A European Union advisory committee today will consider General Electric Co.’s proposed $42-billion purchase of Honeywell International Inc. against the background of a rising chorus of criticism from the United States.

The 15 members of the European Union, all of which will send representatives to the meeting, have been inundated with information from all sides in recent days, and informed sources say they may need time to digest it.

Adding to the pressure is continuing intervention and comments from top U.S. officials.

The representatives of the 15 EU countries will meet the Merger Task Force, made up of commission experts who are reviewing the acquisition.

The countries are weighing the commission task force’s 122-page draft decision recommending rejection of the deal, along with GE’s own final offer of remedies.

In addition, GE spokeswoman Louise Binns said from company headquarters in Fairfield, Conn., that its representatives are meeting EU officials “to answer their questions and explain why we believe our final offer” meets commission concerns.